Sunday 21 February 2010

The Best Laid Plans

Well, my few days off didn't work out quite as planned as far as riding goes. Thursday poured with rain and sleet all day then it snowed overnight so we woke up to a blanket of snow on Friday morning. Friday was quite warm though and most of the snow had melted by lunchtime so I managed to sneak a quick ride. The farm was so wet that all we could do was go out round the block but it was better than nothing.

As my riding plans were thwarted on Thursday I used the spare time to make a video which I have been trying to upload to Youtube ever since. I finally managed it this afternoon by saving in a poor quality wmv format.

When I look back to what I was doing with Santana in the early summer I'm amazed. We seem to be going backwards, which is not good!

On our ride on Saturday we went round the roads again and when we got back to the farm we walked round the outside of the front field. As we turned the corner, something spooked Santana from behind and he was off. I managed to turn him in a circle and then kept him going round and round until he got fed up with it. When I say something spooked him, there was actually nothing, he just imagined a monster. He never used to be like that at all so its a bit unnerving and unpredictable at the moment.

Today I just rode round the circle, trotting mainly with a couple of canters and it was all good apart from first getting on board when he was very tense and jumpy. As soon as we walk of he relaxes. I think he sees my right foot coming over his back and it frightens him, although its not as if anything has happened to make him scared other than the time when I fell off on the ice.

I just can't wait for the better weather and drier ground so I can get some more riding and schooling in and get back to where we were.

6 comments:

  1. Great video!! Looks like you guys just have a lot of fun together.
    Keep your chin up and keep trying before you know it you will not only be back to doing what you were last spring but even better!

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  2. ^ What Steph said! Your horse is bee-yoo-ti-ful and you are a wonderful light rider! I WISH I had those jumps you have to practice with! I really enjoyed the video, sorry to hear about your wrist! I broke my shoulder when I first got Jackson three years ago, and major confidence/fear issues ensued! Luckily, with the help of two wonderful friends, I am now on the right track, and I have my forever horse for sure! Jacks and I need to come to England for a little visit and some jumping practice! HEE HEE!
    ~Mindy

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  3. Thank you for your lovely comments, it really means a lot to me. You have given me more determination to persevere.

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  4. Enjoyed the video very much! You go, girl!

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  5. Awww...don't think of it as going backwards! Even the sanest, most well-trained horses "see monsters" this time of year. They are feeling spring coming and getting a bit frisky. More rides and all will be well again.

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